How to Have a WordPress Website that Looks Like Mine

Here are the details of my recent WordPress redesign and why.

Whenever I change my website design, I’m asked about the products and services I use. You are viewing my latest redesign. When I do a switcheroo, I share with you what the bones of my site are like right now.

I constantly review my stats (I wish I could do it more) before a redesign to focus on visitor intent, not just what I want them to know. This data contributes to the homepage layout and menus that cater to that.

The homepage is only a scroll-and-a-half (one screenshot and half of another), featuring only the most sought-after info. The same applies to the menu—not every page, area, or topic that exists, but only the top places of interest.

New Look & Focus

I never knew when I’d change my look, so no matter how much I loved the latest theme, it’d eventually start to bug me.

In addition, this time, I needed an updated theme that would cater not only to the layout that the data indicated visitors were looking for, but we also had the Google Page Experience Update algo rolling out at the time to consider.

I noticed a direct shift in the type of clients seeking me out. They wanted more personalized, individual, one-on-one services. There was also a transformation in the level of support they wanted and knew they needed to succeed.

The difference was so dramatic that I couldn’t help but follow the data and the dictates of direct communications. However, this approach required that I remove much of the home page and menus to simplify and focus the content.

PREMIUM WORDPRESS THEME:

I am currently sporting:

Kadence Theme. It’s free, but I always opt for the Pro and Premium/Membership versions to have everything at my fingertips, along with the support that backs it up, which is worth every penny.

KADENCE PLUGIN LINEUP:

Kadence Blocks – PRO Extension
Kadence Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks for Page Builder Features
Kadence Custom Fonts
Kadence Pro – Premium addon for the Kadence Theme
Kadence Reading Time
Kadence Simple Share
Kadence Galleries
Kadence Conversions – Popups, slide-ins

PREMIUM WORDPRESS PLUGINS FROM WPMUDEV

Hummingbird Pro: Hummingbird zips through my site, finding new ways to make it load faster, from file compression and minification to browser caching – because every millisecond counts when it comes to page speed.
Smush Pro: Reduces image file sizes, improves performance, and boosts my SEO using the WPMU DEV WordPress Smush API.
Forminator Pro: Capture user information (as detailed as you like), engage users with interactive polls that show real-time results and graphs, “no wrong answer” Facebook-style quizzes, and knowledge tests.
WPMU Dashboard: Provides a control panel for all WPMU Member plugins and a support interface.

PREMIUM WORDPRESS PLUGINS

Anti-Spam by CleanTalk: Premium anti-spam plugin. My forms were getting hammered. This plugin put an end to those bots. No comment spam, no registration spam, no contact spam, and protects any WordPress forms.
Pretty Links Beginner Edition: Shrink, track, and share any URL using your website and brand. This plugin also provided insight into the products and services site visitors were most interested in.
Real Media Library: Organize uploaded media in folders, collections, and galleries: A file manager for WordPress. Media management made easy — love it.
Yoast Premium SEO: I cannot live without the Yoast readability guide. Combined with my Grammarly subscription (browser extension), I know both have made me a better writer.

PLUGINS FROM THE WORDPRESS PLUGIN DIRECTORY

Easy WP SMTP: I use SMTP to ensure all website-generated emails are sent and received.
WordFence Security: Anti-virus, Firewall, and Malware Scan

I’m still tweaking as I play with Kadence, as it is so feature-rich on a block level, with continual updates being pushed out. This is what I call fun!

At your service,